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Different fields of science are like different languages. The deeper you go into a specific field, the more it feels like speaking a unique dialect. Scientists from different disciplines can generally understand one another and pick up a word or two, but it’s still a different language. Anyone who has learned a new language knows the incredible feeling of finally being able to express themselves comfortably—engaging in passionate discussions, cracking jokes, and truly connecting.

That’s exactly how I felt as part of the Chrom_Rare consortium. It was like finding people who speak the same dialect as me, and what a joy this past year has been! I’ve had the opportunity to travel to new places, meet incredible people, and work on cutting-edge science.

Of course, this journey hasn’t always been smooth. There were days when nothing seemed to work, making me feel like an imposter. But thankfully, those moments have been few and far between. Often, it feels like a never-ending video game: as soon as I master one skill to push my project forward, five new challenges appear, each demanding to be conquered. But I take it one step at a time, eager for what’s ahead.

I am Yunna Erika Strøm, a doctoral candidate in the MSCA Project Chrom_Rare. My passion lies in unraveling the wonders of chromatin dynamics through mass spectrometry-based proteomics, with a special focus on a technique called Proximity Labeling.

#PhDLife #LabDiaries #ChromatinBiology #Epigenetics #ResearchRollerCoaster #GrowthThroughScience #MSCA #EUHorizon #ChromRare

Hi, I’m Emile, and I joined ChromRare to study the epigenetic mechanisms that govern developmental programs, aiming to better understand Kabuki Syndrome. This first year of PhD has been a mix of challenges, adventures, and a lot of exciting learning.

First, going from the calm of Strasbourg to the great entropy of Naples was a real change. But despite the initial impression of chaos, I felt incredibly welcomed and quickly found myself at home. A year later, I can honestly say that I’ve never loved a city so much, and I’m glad I was able to learn Italian.

Then, my first steps in the lab weren’t always as smooth as I expected, for example I learned that it can take some time and effort to obtain the cell lines of your dreams. And when it came to analysing the first data… I have to say that my bioinformatics skills were almost non-existent. I could barely open a spreadsheet in R, and analysing OMIC data seemed out of my reach. But thanks to courses, the help of colleagues, and a lot of trial and error, I managed to carry out my first RNA-seq and ATAC-seq analyses from scratch.

Looking back, I realize that I learned a lot!

After the ups and downs of the start, I feel on the right track and I’m very excited about the next steps.

#PhDLife #LabDiaries #ChromatinBiology #Epigenetics #ResearchRollerCoaster #GrowthThroughScience #MSCA #EUHorizon #ChromRare

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Working in a research lab as a PhD Scholar feels like riding a rollercoaster—a thrilling mix of highs and lows. There are days when that perfect fluorescence signal brightens not just your image but your smile and you are finally acquiring the data you have been chasing for weeks.
And then, there are the lows—the days when experiments refuse to work, when cells behave strangely, and the frustration of troubleshooting and repeating the experiments is (photo)bleaching your enthusiasm. Yet, amidst this chaos, I can feel the journey transforming me— learning how it is not just about experiments and generating data; it’s about how to navigate challenges, uncertainty and setbacks, and how to embrace failure as an essential part of growth.

Steering this roller coaster (partly), I am Shiza Nasir, doctoral candidate in MSCA Project Chrom_rare;
studying mechanisms underlying chromatinopathies, particularly how nuclear mechanics and chromatin organization contribute to pathogenesis.

PhDLife #LabDiaries #ChromatinBiology #Mechanobiology #ResearchRollerCoaster #GrowthThroughScience #MSCA #EUHorizon #ChromRare